Category Archives: Target

I got some clearance deals at Target this week. I was reminded of an article I read a while back that talked about Target’s corporate price reduction policies. Here’s the brief article from The Consumerist.

Once you learn these simple rules you’ll know the difference between a good clearance deal and a great one.

Target Markdown Rules:

Target marks items down with percentages: 15%, 30%, 50%, 75% & 90%.

The upper right hand corner of the price tag will tell you the percentage off.

Item will remain at a percentage off for usually two weeks before progressing to the next level.

Consumable items, furniture, and electronics are generally the only things that go 15%.

Target’s full prices end in 9. Thereafter each price drop will reduce the final digit in the price to either an 8, 6, or 4. (eg. A $9.99 item at 30% off will be priced $6.98)

The lowest the last digit will drop is to 4. If you see something you want and the price ends in 4, buy it. The price won’t go any lower.

Holiday Clearance Rules:

50% off day after holiday for three days

75% off fourth day after holiday for three days

90% off seventh day after holiday for 1-2 days

Here are some examples from today’s shopping trip. Good thing I had coupons for most of these items:

Food item 15% off. Blah deal:

Food item 30% off. Better deal. Ends in 8 so its the first price reduction:

Twice reduced. Now at 50% off & ending in a 4. The lowest price this product will go:

Unexpected savings is the best kind of savings of all. You know, when you just kinda stumble over a deal that you weren’t even looking for.

This afternoon is my niece’s birthday party. Not wanting to wait to the last minute to get her a present I hit up Target this morning. I bought her an outfit and a toy. Unfortunately I have no news to brag about on either gift. Paid full retail like a sucka.

However cutting through the normally abysmal Target shoe section paid great rewards for me. I scored these Converse one stars sorta like the kind Kurdt used to rock. For a Gen Xer like myself that’s pretty damn cool.

They were on clearance for $7.48 and originally overpriced at $29.99 for a 75% savings. Smells like middle aged savings.

Oh what a difference a day can make in the bargain shopping world. Just yesterday I went to Target and picked up a few OK 50% off clearance items. I didn’t blog about it right away, I was gonna do that sometime today. Before I even had a chance to do so I got word that Target Xmas items were now 75% off. So back I went once more and oh the bargains I found. Now I wish I never even made that trip yesterday.

So to catch up, here’s Monday’s 50% off deals:

BBQ meat thermometer: $4.99 (was $9.99)

Toy Story hat: $3.98 (was $7.99)

Today was a much different story at Target. Less than 24 hours later in the same store I shopped peacefully in yesterday was now complete bedlam. All Christmas/Holiday items were 75% off. Even the line at the self-scan price check station were 6 deep. People were going nuts, carts were flying, kids were crying, human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together, mass hysteria. I think I may have even gotten caught up in the excitement more than I should have. I bought nothing I really needed but saved like a bandit nonetheless. Some of the deals made little sense in that I don’t know how they were classified as “holiday items”. For example I got white flannel twin bed sheets for 75% off. They’re just white, plain old white. How is that “holiday”? Don’t know, don’t care. I’ll take the deal. I got red scissors and plain scotch tape that again looks perfectly “normal” but was categorized as “holiday” and therefore also 75% off. Score again.

Spent $27.14, Saved $75.26. Here are all the 75% off savings:

Twin flannel white sheets: $4.99 (was $19.99)

6pk holiday washcloths: $1.99 (was $7.99)

“Holiday” accent rug: $1.99 (was $7.99)

Scotch scissors: $1.24 (was $4.99)

2 Scotch tape: $.49 ea (was $1.99)

2 Hickory Farms 12oz Big Barn Cheddar: $1.24 ea (was $4.99)

3 Pillsbury funfetti cake mix: $.39 ea (was $1.59)

2 Pillsbury funfetti frosting: $.39 ea (was $1.59)

2 white fudge dipped Oreo: $.62 ea (was $2.50)

2 boxes 12ct Xmas cards: $1.74 ea (was $6.99)

Pixar Cars Xmas gift tags: $.73 (was $2.99)

Xmas gift tags: $.32 (was $1.29)

Pixar Cars wrapping paper: $.75 (was $3.00)

Pixar Cars holiday night light: $1.99 (was $7.99)

And then to celebrate both the above savings and the fact the I had zero Xmas returns to make this year (my least favorite thing in life to do) I bought the one thing I asked for Christmas and unfortunately didn’t receive. My Merry Christmas to me present was the below $19.99 value dvd set of seasons 3 & 4 of Reba. Yeah, that’s right, I loves me some Reba. What up? It’s the wholesome family sitcom that no longer exists in today’s sad TV climate but I became accustomed to growing up in the 70s & 80s. So there.

The great thing about buying groceries at Target is their coupon stacking policy. You may use a manufacturers coupon AND a Target coupon on the same item. Furthermore, Target coupons could be printed in an unlimited manner via coupon generators such as THIS. Last night that all came to an end. With the release of a new set of grocery coupons came a change in coupon distributors on Target.com. Coupons are now limited to 2 prints per computer, the generators don’t work and they cannot be printed at the customer service kiosk anymore. Get your free wipes before the generator expires for good on 12/5.

I went to Target today to restock the pantry with some great grocery items on sale. Much to my disappointment I was unable to do so. People must be refilling those Y2K fallout shelters they have because the store’s shelves were picked clean. I only manged to get 1 of the 3 items I went to get.

Target has a great deal going right now where you can score free wipes. Buy the Up & Up flushable toddler wipes 48 ct pack for $.97 and use the new $1/1 Target coupon HERE (it will auto adjust to $.97) and boom free wipes. I grabbed 4 packs today.